The memorial will be one of two, with the other being built on the corner of Sandilands, close to the crash scene.

Ken Burgess, the owner of Burgess Boys Pet Care, on Central Parade, is attending the memorial service on the estate.

He said: "Initially, people were very tearful and, while time has helped to heal, we will never forget it.

"It is still something which crops up in conversation from time to time and I think the fact we are commemorating it a year on has brought it to the forefront of people's minds again.

"At the time, the community were considerably solemn and subdued about it, and it is very much something which is still on everybody's mind."

Ken Burgess

Mr Burgess, who is also chairman of Central Parade Business Partnership, has been part of the community for 39 years and knew several people on the tram as customers.

"We have got an extremely strong community here and the impact of this has been felt widely," he added.

"When a person passes away we notice and we feel it."

Mr Burgess praised Croydon Council, which set up welfare centres, phone lines and support surgeries in the days after the crash.

The derailed tram after it had been lifted off the tracks

Another long-time resident, Mick Watts, who has lived on the estate for 62 years, thinks the memorials are "a lovely idea".

Mr Watts, who organises the Christmas lights on Central Parade, said: "It has been different up here ever since that day and you still get people talking about it all the time.

"We held a minute's silence last year at the switch-on and people are still coming to terms with what's happened."

Mick Watts (Image: Samantha Booth)

Councillor Oliver Lewis, who represents New Addington, said he has noticed a "very strong community spirit" on the estate in the year since the tragedy.

He said: "New Addington is a strong community and people really came together to support one another in the aftermath of the crash.

"Volunteers helped out at welfare centres put in after the crash, many donated to the fund [for the victims' families], there were offers of support for the emergency service workers who did all that they could and there have been touching memorials at various community events since.

The carriages of the derailed tram are driven away from the scene

"Over the last year, some events have been a bit more subdued as people slowly adjust to life after the crash, but New Addington is resilient and people have pulled together to support each other and help each other through."

*To mark the anniversarywe are writing numerous articles on the impact the crash had on the town.

If you were impacted by the tragedy and would like to speak about your experience, please feel free to get in touch by calling 01737 305561 or emailing samantha.booth@croydonadvertiser.co.uk